The group of 15 midwives, student midwives and student operating department practitioners (ODPs) will spend two weeks in the poverty stricken country in July to teach local midwives vital skills, and provide women with medical packs they need to give birth safely.

The group held a fun day on Saturday (April 12) at the Velmore Community Centre in Chandler’s Ford to help raise money towards the trip.

The event included face painting, a raffle, bouncy castle, magician, and stars of the day – the minions from Disney’s Despicable Me.

Laura Aspinall, team leader, midwife at RHCH and avid fundraiser for Basingstoke Hoima Partnership for Health, said the work is so important to improving the delivery of healthcare and boosting birth survival rates.

She said: “We provide training and support for people, and teach them to provide safer care for the people of Uganda. We work with the staff in Hoima Referral Hospital, and with traditional birth attendees.

“They deliver women in the community in the rural areas in Africa, and are non-qualified. They are very good but we try and help them out with clinics and teach them skills for early referral for mums who need midwives in a hospital setting.”

The group will also be handing out MAMA packs containing vital drugs, sterile gloves, clean blades, sterile cord clamps and hygiene equipment. They cost £2 to put together.

Ms Aspinall said: “It is so rewarding to see how much work we can do, just by giving up two weeks of our time and the cost of the flight. I get such a buzz out of it.

“When you give money online you don’t always see the good it does, and it can be taxed, but when you work there yourself you see the benefits first hand.”

Amy Flowers is one of the student midwives taking the trip. She said: “I’m really excited. I never thought I would do something like this. It’s going to be an amazing experience.”